6 January, 2026 @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2974 (Part 5) | Prompt: norm (norma)

Part 4: Recap

The calm on the outside didn't reflect the raging storm within as Daniela sat razor straight in the cold, unfriendly room.

She didn't know whom she should be more angry at; the police who embarrassed her in front of the entire block, or her absent husband. As to what she should be angry about, she couldn't determine. Her arrest and interrogation was unwarranted; and none of the officers present in the room would explain. Just hostile glares in her direction for several long moments.

Feeling flushed and confused, she placed her head, now pounding with tension, in her hands and eased them down on the table. She could hear the interrogation room's door open and close several times.

"Light's on, but nobody's home," the officer sitting opposite her at the table joked, then directed his next comment to her. "Sit up. You're in serious trouble." He slid a photo across the table. "Is this the man you pretend is your husband?"

Daniela raised her head from the table and complied slowly, then crossed her arms, forming a shield to their barrage of questions while one foot bounced underneath. Surveying the room, her eyes darted until she noticed a dark window.

One of the officers snapped his fingers in front of her face, forcing her to return.

"You say you're married to this Lyle Reddingham. How is your marriage going?" the female officer stated in a matter-of-fact tone.

Frustrated, Daniela lowered her voice to a whisper. Not wanting to answer, but knowing she couldn't refuse, she started, afraid to divulge her true feelings. "Typical." She didn't know why she blurted out, in an uncertain tone "a bit frustrated with the amount of traveling."

All officers exchanged glances, but the response was the same as those while standing in her driveway. "You're a liar," the female officer interrupted.

"What the hell are you talking about? I have the marriage license to prove it. Since you don't believe me, I'm not answering any further questions. I'm due a phone call, right?"

The officers packed up their documents and left the room.

Within an hour, Daniela's dad rescued her.

"Dad, you won't believe the insanity. They're telling me that Lyle isn't my husband. I don't understand what's going on."

"I may have some answers for you. At least partially from bits and pieces the investigator uncovered," he explained.

Arriving home, Daniela freshened up while her dad prepared them lunch. The day's events swirled as though waking from a nightmare. She sat across her dining room table staring, but only half listening to the information her dad had obtained. "None of this makes sense," she murmured before continuing. "Dad, the police broke the lock and confiscated boxes from the attic. I have no idea what was inside or other contents of the attic. They wouldn't tell me anything."

"Probably evidence of his other life," he stated stoically, averting her eyes so as not to frighten his already fragile daughter. "I'll feel better if I stay the night with you; or, you can stay in our guest room if you're not comfortable here."

"It's alright, dad. This is my home. Although Lyle isn't here, it may be a good thing so that I can sort out the information. I may muster the courage to visit the attic. The police didn't say it was off limits or would interfere with their investigation. Besides, I think they took all they believed was needed. That way, I can confront Lyle when he returns."

"But if they took all the evidence, then what's left for you to discover?"

"I just need to see why he thought it necessary to lock the attic door. They may have missed something."

Her dad grudgingly left, promising to call when he arrived home.

Now, Part 5

Weary from the day's episode, Daniela found her sofa a welcome reprieve. She dozed off, not realizing how long. The television watched her for an hour. Loud barking stirred her to consciousness. She woke startled to find the day winding down. She jumped up from the sofa pulse racing and canvassed the room. Buzzing from her mobile phone caught her attention. She ran to answer hoping it was Lyle. Her heart sank upon hearing a telemarketer.

Realizing she hadn't eaten all day, she headed toward the kitchen. While peering inside the refrigerator, she caught sight of a shadow through the patio curtain.

She backed away, bumping into the island. "What the hell!" she gasped, staring in numbed horror as the patio door knob turned slowly. The shadowy figure in turn watched her as she flinched when the door burst wide.

The next instance, shards of glass landed on the floor, with a few aiming toward her. Too overwhelmed with fright to move, she froze. Why Lyle refused to have installed a safety alarm. And why is he acting like a a madman, she wondered, her heart racing upon recognizing his black long coat and oddly-shaped black hat.

She reached for the telephone. No time. Next, she searched frantically for any kitchen tool to use as immediate defense, she found non visible. Recovering, she turned and fled toward the living room.

Daniela cried out in panic while fumbling with the front door lock. The next instance, she found herself outside running without looking back across her front lawn toward her neighbor's driveway two houses down on the left.

She banged on the door until her neighbor, an older gentleman in his late sixties, cracked opened the door cautiously.

"Please help me. I'm afraid for my life. Someone is trying to kill me," she screamed.

The man on the other side of the door didn't hesitate. He grabbed her arm and pulled her inside, bolting the door behind them. Daniela recalled his small round spectacled face under thinning white hair, but not his name. A look of surprise crossed his face as he tilted his head.

"I need your help," Daniela blurted. "Someone broke into my house just now. He's chasing me. He's gonna kill me. I'm afraid it may be..." Her incoherent voice trailed off for a long second before turning her face away, concluding in a cracked voice..."my husband."

Walter Monroe moved the curtain back and peeked out the window. "There's no one following you, miss.

He tilted his head quizzically as a look of puzzlement crossed his face. Immediately, his wife's condition surfaced, so he understood Daniela's distress. He nodded and smiled slightly.

Calming her wouldn't be easy. He recalled his conversation with her husband earlier in the week. "My wife just returned from resting at a facility. She's a bit fragile right now. If you could keep an eye on her, I'd appreciate it." Lyle's sympathetic expression and downward glance as he spoke of his ill wife caused Walter to pat him on the shoulder.

"I understand completely. I'll do everything within my power to keep an eye on her," he reassured Lyle. So young a couple to have such problems. A heavy burden indeed, Walter thought as he shook Lyle's hand and returned to his home to tend to his own wife.

Escorting her back to the safety of her home took more time than he'd anticipated. But he wouldn't leave her to wander the neighborhood. Not in her condition. Carefully tucking his arm under hers, he urged her back slowly to her front door.

"Now see, miss, there's nothing to worry about. No one is here to harm you." He stopped, gave a quick jerk of his head, peering intently behind her to the right side of her lawn. A sudden chill racked his body that gave him pause to reconsider his statement, but kept quiet.

Immediately, Daniela stopped, taken aback, and jerked a sharp breath as the wind picked up and blew past her. For just an instant, she caught a whiff of Lyle's overbearing Dior Homme Parfum. Perhaps it was remembrance of the first few months of marriage before the subtle changes began. She shuddered, shaking her head violently, then tugged at Walter's arm in retreat. He struggled to keep her moving forward.

"He's here I tell you. I can smell him." Daniela began, her body joined her voice in trembling. Walter closed his arms around her and whispered in her ear. His words helped a bit. Dealing with his wife for ten years now, he knew the signs. "Miss, your husband is out of town. I'll come inside with you and take a look around if that pleases you."

"Yes, yes, please. I'd appreciate it," half listening.

Spirals of self-doubt poked fun at her. Don't be stupid, an inner voice hissed. You're losing it when you need to be on top of your game for what's coming.

Confident no one was there, Walter entered Daniela's home, but insisted she remain outside. It didn't take long. What he discovered disturbed him. Returning, he frowned. "There's been someone in your home. The patio door pane is broken. Perhaps an attempted burglary. We must inform the police.

"Definitely not again," Daniela lamented. "I'd rather not deal with him twice in one day."*

"But you can't allow this vicious entry into your home to go unreported." Walter looked quizzically in her direction. There must be more to this than she's telling, he assumed.

*"I'll deal with it later," she promised.

"Well, don't let it go too long. The authorities will question your reasoning for doing so." He paused paused before leaving, "just some friendly advice."

Half an hour later, Daniela realized the wisdom in his words and phoned the police. She didn't understand the hour wait for their arrival. she sighed in relief knowing she wouldn't be scrutinized as different officers responded to her call. Once the report was given, she locked the door.

Physically drained, she pushed her hair back from her forehead and exhaled. But a worried look crossed her face. Why do I have to face these problems alone. Where is Lyle? she questioned.

Her body went limp, but she held onto the edge of the island as she couldn't afford to succumb for the weariness. She twirled a few times, wondering where to begin cleaning the mess left by the intruder. The police didn't forbid her to remove the broken glass, so she started that task first.

While sweeping, a cold sweat enveloped her as she paused and thought for a moment, I've no means to protect myself. I couldn't locate any object. Lyle wouldn't allow any weapons in the house.

Finished discarding the broken glass, her thoughts turned to Lyle and the interrogation she endured. I have to discover what's the secret in the attic, she promised.

Once upstairs on the third floor, she studied the room.

Nothing much less for her to examine but a few boxes strewn across the floor, a few moments later, her garage door clanked as the automatic opener wheels churned. "Lyle, she whispered, and immediately ran to the attic window.

What she saw through the dusk hour was Lyle rushing toward a car parked near her curb, jump in, and speed away.

Instantly, she pressed her hands to her temples. Thought gremlins scrambled through her mind laughing as "Lyle hissed, I've been here the entire time, you imbecile."

Stumbling toward the door, she murmured several times, "where's your heart" before tripping over a large box that wouldn't move and falling head first on the attic floor. Stupid me, she thought before the world went dark.

[to be continued]

For my theme, I was inspired by and utilized the Hive account@daily.prompt's publishing of 6 January 2026, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2974: norm; together with the prompts listed below:

5 January 2026, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2973: has no heart;

4 January 2026, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2972: reinforced;

3 January 2026, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2971: can’t overlook that;

1 January 2026, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2969: what an appearance!;

22 December 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2959: the last date; and

21 December 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2958: the secret in the attic